The Moody Blues started of as an rock band with R&B influences in 1964. The lads from Birmingham, England were Denny Laine (vocals/harmonica/guitar), Mike Pinder (piano/keyboards), Ray Thomas (flute/vocals/harmonica), Graeme Edge (drums) and Clint Warwick (bass). They signed a contract with Decca Records after performing on Ready, Steady, Go!. The Moody Blues' second single, a cover version of Bessie Banks' "Go Now!," became a hit and reached Number 1 in the UK and Number 10 in the US in 1965. They did not have another hit single and Laine and Warwick left in 1966. On came Justin Hayward and John Lodge and this marked their change from R&B to progressive rock.
The band moved to Decca's Deram Records and released in 1967 Days Of Future Passed. The album was recorded with a full orchestra, arranged and conducted by Peter Knight, and produced by Tony Clark. It contained "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon." that became instant hits. And so the band once again was on top and started to record a streak of massively successful albums with Knight and Clark on board, all of which hit at least the US and UK Top 20 or Top 10 and three that were number 1 in the UK: 1969's On The Threshold Of A Dream, 1970's A Question Of Balance (including the hit Question), 1970's To Our Children's Children's Children, 1971's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, and 1972's Seventh Sojourn (featuring I'm Just A Singer [In A Rock And Roll Band]).
The band splits in 1974 and the members each go their own ways to pursue solo projects. Hayward and Lodge released the Blue Jays album, which had the hit "Blue Guitar". The Moody Blues returned in 1978's with another big album, Octave. Having released the album, Pinder left and was replaced with Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz. Clark also resigned as the their producer.
The Moody Blues' next album, 1981's Long Distance Voyager, was huge and stayed at Number 1 in the US for three weeks. It had three hits, "Gemini Dream," "Meanwhile," and "The Voice." Their follow-up album, 1983's The Present, was not as successful, although it did contain the rock radio hit, "Sitting At The Wheel." The Moody Blues came back with their 1986 hit "Your Wildest Dreams" and The Other Side Of Life album. The 1988 album, Sur La Mer, had another sizable hit, "I Know You re Out There Somewhere." Patrick Moraz left before their next album, 1991's Keys Of The Kingdom, and was replaced by Paul Bliss. The band continued to tour throughout the 1990s and 2000's and released one more album in the '90s, 1999's Strange Times. Thomas left after their 2003 tour and later that year the trio of Lodge, Hayward and Edge released a Moody Blues Christmas album, December.
The Moody Blues Discography
Go Now! - 1965
The Magnificent Moodies - 1966
Days of Future Passed - 1967
In Search of the Lost Chord - 1968
On the Threshold of a Dream - 1969
To Our Children's Children's Children - 1969
Question of Balance - 1970
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - 1971
Seventh Sojourn - 1972
Caught Live + 5 - 1977
Octave - 1978
Long Distance Voyager - 1981
The Present - 1983
The Other Side of Life - 1986
Sur La Mer - 1988
Journey Through Time - 1990
Keys of the Kingdom - 1991
A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado... - 1993
Strange Times - 1999
Hall of Fame - 2000
Melancholy Men - 2000
December - 2003
Lovely to See You: Live from the Greek - 2005